Luther Creek
Encyclopedia
Luther Creek is an American actor best known for his roles in Broadway
and West End
musicals
.
, Creek is the son of J. Fred Creek, a realtor from New Mexico
, and his wife Patricia, originally of Indianapolis
. Luther grew up in towns throughout the Midwest and Southwest, as his family moved frequently. He attended high school in Indiana
, where he began to perform in community theatre. He also performed in rock bands.
Creek's Broadway
roles include Roger Davis in Rent
(1998, after having played Mark Cohen in the National Tour of Rent
beginning in 1996 and then Roger beginning in 1997), Lyle in Footloose
(1999) and Bobby Strong in Urinetown
(2003). In the early 1990s, Creek understudied the title role in the European premiere of Tommy. Creek also played the role of Claude in the (1993) James Rado-directed, 25th anniversary U.S. national tour of Hair
(1994) and the 2001 City Center
Encores!
concert of Hair with Tom Plotkin
and Idina Menzel
. He also appeared in the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar
. Off-Broadway
roles have included Peter in A Man of No Importance
(2002). His latest role is Woof in the 2010 West End
revival of Hair. He is currently starring in the new Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
, in the role of Kenny "Kong" McFarlane
, among others. The show began previews on November 28, 2010, and will open June 14, 2011.
Creek has also appeared in films and on television, including guest-starring roles in several episodes of the Law & Order franchise
and has done voice work on video games.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
Biography
Born in Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, Creek is the son of J. Fred Creek, a realtor from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and his wife Patricia, originally of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Luther grew up in towns throughout the Midwest and Southwest, as his family moved frequently. He attended high school in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he began to perform in community theatre. He also performed in rock bands.
Creek's Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
roles include Roger Davis in Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
(1998, after having played Mark Cohen in the National Tour of Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
beginning in 1996 and then Roger beginning in 1997), Lyle in Footloose
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
(1999) and Bobby Strong in Urinetown
Urinetown
Urinetown: The Musical is a satirical comedy musical, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics...
(2003). In the early 1990s, Creek understudied the title role in the European premiere of Tommy. Creek also played the role of Claude in the (1993) James Rado-directed, 25th anniversary U.S. national tour of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
(1994) and the 2001 City Center
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
Encores!
Encores!
Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert is a program that has been presented by New York City Center since 1994. Encores! is dedicated to performing the full score of musicals that rarely are heard in New York City...
concert of Hair with Tom Plotkin
Tom Plotkin
Tom Plotkin is an American actor. He is primarily a Broadway performer and is most famous for originating the role of Willard Hewitt in Footloose.-External links:...
and Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel
Idina Kim Menzel is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is widely known for originating the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked.-Early life:...
. He also appeared in the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
roles have included Peter in A Man of No Importance
A Man of No Importance (musical)
A Man of No Importance is a musical with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, based on the 1994 Albert Finney film, A Man of No Importance...
(2002). His latest role is Woof in the 2010 West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
revival of Hair. He is currently starring in the new Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is a rock musical with music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge and a book by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The musical is based on the Spider-Man comics created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published by Marvel Comics, as well as the 2002...
, in the role of Kenny "Kong" McFarlane
Kenny McFarlane
Kenny McFarlane, , is a fictional character in comic books published by Marvel Comics', in Marvel's Ultimate Universe. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, he appears in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man...
, among others. The show began previews on November 28, 2010, and will open June 14, 2011.
Creek has also appeared in films and on television, including guest-starring roles in several episodes of the Law & Order franchise
Law & Order franchise
The Law & Order franchise is a number of related American television series created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the criminal justice system...
and has done voice work on video games.
External links
- 2008 photo of Creek
- Creek with James Rado at Hair opening in London, 2010